(TriceEdneyWire.com) The National Newspaper Publishers Association has announced the appointment of William Tompkins to the post of President and CEO of the 70-year-old trade organization. The appointment was made during the NNPA's annual convention in Atlanta June 20-23.

The selection of Tompkins culminates a nine-month search conducted by Carrington & Carrington, Ltd. According to criteria that circulated throughout the industry, the new president will be charged with developing a new vision for the organization and implementing strategic plans and programs that serve the needs of the more than 200 Black community newspapers represented by NNPA. The trade group is commonly referred to as The Black Press of America.

Tompkins, 55, currently heads his own consultancy firm, Williams Tompkins Associates, in Los Angeles. Before starting his company, Tompkins held positions at Eastman Kodak, including General Manager and Vice President of the Motion Picture Film Group and Chief Marketing Officer for the company's Entertainment Imaging division.

Prior to joining Kodak, Tompkins spent 19 years at The Washington Post, last serving as Vice President of Marketing. Tompkins has a degree in economics from Tufts University, where he graduated magna cum laude and also earned an M.B.A. from Harvard University.

Tompkins will report to Clovis Campbell, publisher of the Arizona Informant and chairman of the NNPA board.